Time controlled switch



May 23, 1933. N, A. LQPEZ 1,910,114

TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed June 2l, 1929 /l/S ATTORNEY Patented May 23, 1933 la? yE" Ej A T NICOLAS A. LOPEZ, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINQIS TIME CONTROLLED SVITCI-L Application led .Tune 21, 1929.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in time controlled switches and Ahas for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly ellicient in use and economical in manufacture.

The salient object of my invention is to provide a time controlled switch which will embody an arrangement whereby the switch maybe employed for opening or closing circuit at predetermined times and this consists in the providing of an operative member which may be reetilinearly moved into or from engagement with circuit closing' means arranged so that they can be' disposed in circuit opening or closing positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above named character in which means will be provided that will permit the closing of a circuit for brief intervals.

A still further object of the invention is to provide adevice of the above named character which will be arranged in a manner 'such that it may be employed in connection with automotive vehicles and the like.

A still further object of the invention is to arrange a device of the above named charac-ter in a manner such that an alarm Vclock of ordinary construction may be employed if desired and to provide means whereby the operation of this clock may be controlled from the face side thereof.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred form of construction for my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 on Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 on Fig. 3.

Serial No. 372,753.

In the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated a preferred form of oonstruction for my invention 10 generically indicates the housing with which my device is intended to be associated. This housing includes a front wall 11 which has an opening 12 formed therein. @n the lower wall 13 of the housing 10 l mount a clock structure le which in the present instance is in the form of an ordinary alarm clock. The clock structure 14 is arranged so that the dial or face thereof will be disposed in alignment with the opening 12.

As is well understood in the art the means for winding the clock operating mechanisms as well as the means foi` winding the alarm operating mechanisms and the means for setting the indicating hands of such mechanisms are arranged on the rear side of the clock structure. 1t is obvious that since 1 intend to mount my improved device in a housing that it would be difficult to attain access to these mechanisms and l, therefore, provide the following arrangement which will permit control and operation of these mechanisms from the front of the construction. In order to accomplish this I arrange on the shaft 16 for winding the spring which operates the clock mechanisms a. bevel-gear 17. A bracaet 18 is secured to the rear wall of the clock structure and supports a shaft 19 which has aY bevel-gear 2O thereon which meshes with the bevel-gear 17. A bevel-gear 21 is provided on the other end of the shaft 19 and this bevel-gear 21 meshes with a bevel-gear 22 mounted on the inner end of the shaft 23. The shaft 23 is journaled in a bearing provided in the bracket 24 and in a bearing provided in the front wall 11. In the front of the shaft 23 on the portion thereof extending beyond the wall 11 I provide a gripping portion 25.

An arrangement similar to the foregoing is associated with the shaft 26 which is employed for setting the time indicating hands of the clock structure. A bevel-gear 27 is mounted on this shaft 26 and a shaft 28 is jonrnaled in brackets 29 and has a bevelgear 30 on the inner end thereof which meshes with the bevel-gear 27. A bevel-gear 31 is provided on the opposite end of the shaft 28 which meshes with a bevel-gear 32 mounted on the inner end of the shaft 33 which is journaled in a bearing provided in the bracket 34 and a bearing provided in the front wall 11 and a gripping portion 35 is provided on the portion of the shaft 33 which projects beyond the front wall 11.

A shaft 36 is connected to the spring means which operates the alarm operating mechanisms and a gear 37 is mounted on this shaft 36 which meshes with a gear 38 that is mounted on the inner end of the shaft 39 which is extended through the front wall 11 and which is provided with a gripping portion 40.

A gear 41 is mounted on the shaft 42 which is employed for setting the alarm mechanisms and this gear 41 meshes with a gear 43 that is mounted on the inner end of the shaft 44. The shaft 44 projects through the front Wall 11 and is provided with a gripping portion 45.

It is, therefore, apparent that by properly manipulating the gripping portions 25, 35, 40, and 45 the various operating mechanisms of the clock may be expeditiously controlled.

In `the rear wall 46 of the housing 10 adjacent the lower end thereof I provide two socket structures 47 and 48 which greatly facilitate the connection of the wiring with which my device is intended to be associated to the device but it is to be understood that these sockets might be omitted and the connections made to these portions in a manner well understood in the art without departing from the purview of my invention.

The juxtaposed terminals in the socket structures 47 and 48 are connected to a common wire 49 and the socket 47 may be employed as the input side and the socket 48 may be employed as the output side and it is, therefore, apparent that an suitable connecting members are arranged in these sockets that one terminal of each of these connectors will be interconnected by the lead 49.

In order to interconnect the other terminal of the socket structures 47 and 48 I provide the following arrangement which will provide a switch structure between these sockets so as to control the operation of the circuits connected thereto.

An extension is provided on the shaft 36 which is indicated in the drawing by 50 and which has one end thereof journaled in the rear Wall 46. The periphery of the extension is screw threaded as indicated at 51. A rider 52 formed from insulating material is provided which has a screw threaded opening provided therein through which the extension 50 may be extended so as to provide an interconnection with the Screw threads 51. A shaft 53 is journaled in the front wall 11 and the rear Wall 46 and is projected through the upper portion of the rider 52 so as to prevent said rider from rotating about the extension 50. The connection between the shaft 53 and the rider 52 is arranged so that said rider may be moved along said shaft in a manner to be pointed out presently. As best illustrated in Fig. 3 two contact strips 54 and 55 are arranged on the rider 52 and as best illustrated in Fig. 2 these contact strips are substantially U-shaped so as to extend over both faces of the rider 52. A conductor 56 is extended between the free contact in the socket structure 47 and the contact strip 54 while a conductor 57 is extended between the free terminal in the socket structure 48 and the contact strip 55. It is, therefore, apparentthat if the gap between the Contact strips 54 and 55 be bridged a circuit will be closed and this gap is bridged in the following manner. On the shaft adjacent the end thereof journaled in the wall 46 an inherently resilient member 58 is fixed which extends from the shaft 53 and which includes portions arranged to engage the contact strips 54 and 55 so as to bridge the gap therebetween and thus close the circuit as set forth. Arranged on the shaft 53 substantially in alignment with the end of the screw threads 51 on the extension 5() is another inherently resilient member 59 which is substantially similar to the member 58 but which is arranged so as to extend at rivhtangles thereto.

vn operation of the device the rider 52 will be disposed in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. By rotating the shaft 39 through gripping the portion 40 it is apparent that the spring means controlling the alarm mechanism in the clock structure will be wound and the rotative movement imparted to the shaft 36 will also be imparted to the extension 50 which will cause rotation thereof. Rotation of the extension 50 will cause the screw threads 51 thereon to act on the rider 52 to move the same from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to a position in juxtaposition to the clock structure in which position it will be disposed such that the contact strips 54 and 55 may be engaged by the contact member 59 should said contact member be disposed at rightangles to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. If the Contact member 59 were disposed in this last mentioned position it is apparent that the circuit would be closed. Therefore, when the alarm mechanisms would be operated ill the manner well understood in the art it is apparent that the extension 5() would be rotated in a direction opposite to that heretofore set forth and, therefore, the rider 52 will be moved back into the position illustrated in Fig. 2. It is, therefore, apparent that when the rider 52 is moved in this manner it would cause disengagement of the contact strips 54 and 55 with the member 59 which would obviously open the circuit and since the member 58 is arranged at rightangles to said member 59 it is apparent that this member would be disposed'in a position such that a circuit would not be closed between the contact strips 54 and 55. It is apparent from the foregoing description that the mechanisms would be arranged in the foregoing manner to cause the opening cf the circuit at a predetermined time. It is frequently desirable, however, to cause a switch structure to close a circuit at a predetermined time and this would be aecomplished in the following manner. In this instance the shaft 53 would be arranged in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. Therefore, when the rider 52 would be moved into the position adjacent the contact member 59 said contact member being` in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 it would not close the circuit between the contact strips 54 and 55. However, when the alarm mechanisms would operate to cause the rider 52 to move back into the position illustrated in Fig. 2 the member 58 would be disposed in a position such that it will close the circuit between the contact strips 54 and 55. In order to permit proper manipulation of the shaft 53 I provide a linger portion 60 on the end of said shaft 53 which projects beyond the front wall 11.

When the device is arranged in the latter manner it is particularly advantageous for use in connection with an automotive ve hicle. In this instance the circuit heretofore set forth will be arranged to control the so-called ignition circuit of an automotive vehicle which would obviously then be closed at a predetermined time. When the device is employed in this instance the mechanisms manipulating the shaft 58 and the alarm setting mechanisms and also the hand set ting mechanisms would be arranged for secret control as by a key and lock structure or the like. It is, therefore, apparent that the device would be set in a manner such that the ignition circuit would be closed at a predetermined time and, therefore, operation of the vehicle would be prevented until said time. When the device is arranged in this manner it would be advantageous to provide a signal which would operate so as to inform the operator of the vehicle that the circuit has been closed.

An arrangement for accomplishing the latter comprises a shaft 61 which is journaled in the rear wall 46 and the front wall 11. On this shaft 61 I arrange a contact carrying member 62 which has contacts 63 and 64 provided thereon. A gripping portion 65 is provided on the shaft 61 so as to facilitate movement of this shaft which will permit movement of the contacts 63 and 64 to and from alignment with the contact strip 54. Conductors 66 and 67 tend between one terminal 68 of a socket structure 69 that in the present instance is mounted in the top wall 7() of the housing 10. The other terminal 71 of this socketstructure is connected through a conductor 72 to the lead 49. Connection may be made between the terminals of the socket structure 69 and the horn or other audible signal on the automotive vehicle. Further when the rider 52 is disposed in the forward position heretofore set forth and when it is caused to move to the rear position and if the contacts 63 and 64 are aligned with the contact strip 54 it is apparent that as said rider 52 moves rearwardly the contact strip 54 will successively engage the contacts 63 and 64 so as to close the circuit for short intervals during the time said contact strip 54 is passing below said contacts 63 and 64 which will obviously cause brief operation of the horn on the automotive vehicle. INhen it is not desired that the contacts 63 and 64 be engaged in the manner set forth the gripping portion 65 may be manipulated so as to act through the shaft 61 on the Contact carrying member 62 to move these contacts` from alignment with the strip 54.

As is well understood in the art the shaft 36 and the extension 50 are set in motion when the alarm is released. It is common in the art to provide a means for interrupting movement of this shaft after the alarm has been set oil and such a device is indicated in the accompanying drawing by 73. A shaft 74 is connected to this member 723 and includes a portion 75 which extends beyond the front wall 11 so as to permit this device to be operated when so desired.

As will be readily apparent to any one skilled in the art the de vice will embody applications other than those I have set forth but it is to be understood that such applications. are intended to be within the purview of my invention. It is also apparent that the constructions associated with the shaft 61 may be employed or omitted as desired, both of which are intended to be within the scope of my invention.

IVhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch structure of the character set forth, comprising a rotative threaded member, a second rotative member, a rider movable axially along said members by rotation of the threaded member, spaced contacts carried by the rider, and a member carried by the second-named rotative member, movable thereby into the path of travel of the contact-s and adapted when thus disposed to bridge the contacts and close circuit therebetween.

2. A switch structure of the character set forth, comprising a rotative threaded member, a second rotative member, a rider movable axially along said members by rotation of the threaded member, Contact means carried by the rider, and circuit closing means carried by the second-named rotative member, movable thereby into the path of travel of said contact means and adapted when thus disposed to engage said Contact means and close Circuit therebetween.

A switch structure of the character set forth, comprising a rotative threaded member, a second rotative member, a rider movable axially along said members by rotation of the threaded member, Contact means car ried by the rider, and circuit closing means carried by the second-named rotative member, radially arranged thereon at opposite sides of the rider, and movable thereby into the path of travel of said Contact means and adapted when thus disposed to engage said contact means and close circuit therebetween.

In testimony whereof I atlix mv signature.

NICOLAS A. y LOPEZ. 

